Monday: Forum post leaders shared their stories. Talked about Forum post leader expectations.
Tuesday: Took notes.
Wednesday: Took notes.
Thursday: Got new forum post leaders. Took notes.
Friday: No school.
The Five Major Religions of the World:
Hinduism:
14% of people
Ohm is their spiritual sign
Based out of India
Derived from from Sanskrit word that means “dwellers by the Indus River”
No single founder
Consists of thousands of different religious groups that have evolved since 1500 B.C. in that area
The Hindu belief is that god can take many forms, but all form one universal spirit called Brahman
There is no single Hindu book of doctrine
The vedas are the primary literature works, contained sacred verses and hymns composed in 1500 B.C.
Two other important texts are the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita
0.4% of American adults practice hinduism
Hinduism Beliefs:
Involves reincarnation of the soul, which is rebirth after death
The conditions of one’s present life are due to karma, or accumulated good or bad behavior in past lives
The purpose of life is to obtain liberation from the cycle of reincarnation
People reach true enlightenment and happiness- Moksha- when they free themselves of earthly desires
Dharma
Signifies behaviors that are considered to be in accord with the universe
Includes duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues, and “right way of living”
People are encouraged to practice good Dharma and they may come back into a higher class/better life
The caste system was important part of hinduism. Caste are social classes which a person is born and lives their whole life.
Four Stages of Life
Ages 12-24 you get educated and trained
Ages 24-28 you get married, raise a family, make money, get involved in many things
Ages 48-72 you become a mentor to a young person and start isolating themselves from the outside world
At age 72 you end ties to the outside world and get rid of your worldly possessions. Prayer and devotion become very important
Mostly aimed at men and is not followed as much as it used to be
Hindu Gods
Brahma-creator
Vishnu-Preserver
Shiva-Destroyer
Buddhism:
6% of people
Judaism:
6% of people
13,580,000 total people in the world
Live mostly in the United States and Israel
Monotheistic and the first major monotheistic religion in history
Some believe Judaism dates back to Adam and Eve
Many historians say that it was established around 1800 B.C. as part of a covenant between God and Abraham
Abraham would leave Ur(Babylonia) and go to Canaan (Israel)
He would be blessed with many sons and his family would be given Israel
Moses led the Jews out of Egypt (slavery) around 1500 BC
The Torah is the first five books of the Bible and contains the laws and teaching
The ten commandments are the foundation of Judaism
613 mitzvot, basically 613 rules on how to live your life, both things you should do and things you should not do
The Sabbath is observed as a day of rest, starting at sundown on Friday evening
2.6% of U.S. adults identify as Jewish
Chicago, LA, Southeast
Jews worship in Synagogues or temples
Worship is led by a Rabbi
The universal symbol is the Star of David, the emblem of King David who ruled the Kingdom of Israel from 1000-962 BC
A Yamaka or Kippah is worn by men or boys
Payot
Menorah - Symbol of the nation of Israel and a mission to be “a light unto the nations”
Bar Mitzvah-Bat Mitzvah
Coming of age, boys 12, girls 12-13
Celebration party
Considered kinda of being an adult within the church
Many Jews make the pilgrimage to the “Waling Wall in Jerusalem”
Built in 2nd century BC
Remains of a temple that had stood for close to 500 years
Destroyed by the Romans
Thought to be the most sacred of places
Praying at the Wailing Wall signifies being in the presence of the Divine
Beliefs
That there is a single God (Yahweh), who not only created the Universe, but with whom every Jew can have a personal relationship
Await the MEssiah, who will be an earthly king
Heaven, but the Torah does not say a lot about heaven and focus more on how to live your lives (613 Mitzvot
Ten Commandments is the basic code of law
Kosher Foods
Foods are kosher when they meet all criteria that Jewish law applies to food
Characteristics that make food non-kosher
The mixture or meat and milk
The use of cooking utensils which had previously been used for non-kosher food
The type of animal it is
Leviticus 11:3 says that Jews may eat all animals that have cloven hooves and chew their cud
Six mammals are specifically not allowed:
Camal
Hyrax
Hare
Whales
Dolphins
Pig
Kosher Animals are
Cows, goats, sheep, antelope, deer bison, etc.
Most fish (excluding shellfish, sharks, octopus, eels, and squid
Chicken, duck, and turkey
Milk and cheese are kosher but cannot be eaten with meat or mixed with meat
Preparation:
The slaughter of animals is designed to minimize the pain- usually done by a slice across the throat
This eliminates the practice of hunting for food unless it can be captured alive and ritually slaughtered
All blood and veins must be removed from meat(salting and broiling)
Problems Facing Jews
Anti-Semitism in History
Diaspora- Jews were forced to leave Israel by Romans. Romans scattered the people out of the traditional land. Mostly Europe and North Africa
Porgrams
Holocaust-2/3 of European Jews were killed
Israel established as a JEwish state after WWII(1947)-Led to several wars and a lot of terrorism
Israel VS Palestinians
“Land for peace”
Comments from former Iranian President Ahmadinejad and other Middle East groups
Christianity:
Christians are divided into three main Branches: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism
Beliefs are based on the life, teaching, and death of Jesus Christs and founded in 33 AD
The cross is a symbol used to represent life, death, and resurrection
Jesus Christ’s death made salvation and forgiveness of sins possible for everyone
Three days after his death he was resurrected and lated ascended to Heaven
The resurrection of Christ is celebrated on Easter, which is considered Christianity’s most important holiday
The first Christians were Jews who came to believe Jesus was the MEssiah
78.4% of U.S. adults identify as Christians
Christians Beliefs:
Believe that they can have a personal relationship with God, and that they are saved by faith, and good works (according to some)
Believe in Heaven and Hell
Believe that the Bible is the word of God
Christian Way of Life:
Fellowship with God
Relationship with others
Obedience to God’s commands
Discipline
Good Works
Triune God
Holidays:
Christmas
Easter
Islam:
21% of people
Animism:
Belief that all living and nonliving things in nature have a nature
Belief system of many early civilizations
Early civilizations was often combined with ancestor worship
What is a Religion:
An organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, practices, and worship that centers on one or more gods
What is the point of religion?
Keeps people in line
Polytheism VS monotheism
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